Gabby Giffords takes gun control message to scene of Tucson shooting

March 06, 2013|Reuters

By Brad Poole

TUCSON, Ariz., March 6 (Reuters) - Former ArizonaCongresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, returning tothe site of the shooting rampage where she was gravely wounded,on Wednesday urged senators to "be courageous" and supportbackground checks for all gun buyers.

Standing just a few feet from where a gunman more than twoyears ago put a bullet through Giffords' head and then openedfire on constituents, Giffords and husband Mark Kelly urgedArizona Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake, both Republicans,to support a universal background check system.

"Be bold. Be courageous. Be for background checks," saidGiffords, who is a Democrat. The shooting left her with speechdifficulties, a pronounced limp and a partially paralyzed rightarm, which she cradled in her left as she spoke. Six people werekilled and 13 others wounded in the attack.

Flanked by other victims and family members of severalpeople slain in the shooting, Giffords and Kelly urged U.S. lawmakers and voters to get behind a bill in Congress that would require background checks for all gun transfers orpurchases.

About 100 people attended the event, including media,Giffords' entourage and passers-by. It was Giffords' firstpublic appearance at the suburban Safeway grocery store wherecollege dropout Jared Loughner opened fire at her congressionaloutreach meeting on Jan. 8, 2011. She and Kelly, a formerastronaut, visited the scene unannounced a year after theshooting.

Giffords resigned from Congress a year after the shooting tofocus on her recovery.

In the wake of an assault-rifle attack that left 26 people -including 20 elementary school children - dead at a Newtown,Connecticut, school in December, Giffords and Kelly founded anew group aimed at curbing gun violence and challenging thepolitical clout of the well-funded gun lobby.

TAKING ON NRA

The group, Americans for Responsible Solutions, urgesactions including a ban on assault weapons and high-capacitymagazines and seeks to raise $20 million for the 2014congressional elections, matching the National RifleAssociation's spending in last November's election.

Emily Nottingham, whose son, Gabe Zimmerman, was killed theday of Giffords' shooting, choked up when she talked about theneed for tighter controls. The current system of backgroundchecks lets too many people with mental illness or criminalpasts slip through, Nottingham said.

"That system is riddled with holes. Bullet holes," shesaid.

Giffords and Kelly are both gun owners and strong supportersof the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, whichguarantees Americans' right to own guns. Kelly said the drivewas focused on public safety, and closing loopholes that allowunchecked Internet and gun-show purchases would save lives.

More than 1.7 million people have failed gun storebackground checks since they have been required, Kelly said, andhe wondered how many then went to gun shows to buy weapons.

"I suspect there were plenty," Kelly said. "How many violentcrimes, how many senseless deaths could have been prevented?"

Last November, Loughner was sentenced to life in prison. Hereceived seven consecutive life terms plus 140 years in prison,without the possibility of parole, under a deal with prosecutorsthat spared him the death penalty.